Automatic expression control for mechanically-operated pianos.



M. S. HOWARD.

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROL FOR MEOHANIGALLY OPERATED PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.4,1913.

1,132,584, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

I VlT/VLSSES INVENTOR Attorney;

M. S. HOWARD.

AUTOMATIG EXPRESSION CONTROL FOB. MEOHANICALLY OPERATED PIANOS.

APPLIGATION FILED 0CT.4., 1913 1,132,584, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I WNW/E5555 gumwj M. s. HOWARD. AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROL FOR MBOHANIGALLY OPERATED PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED 0014,1913. V

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

1N VE/V T OR W I 7 1V1? SSE S M. S. HOWARD. AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROL FOR MEOHANIOALLY OPERATED PIANOS.

APPLICATION TILED OCT.4,1913. 1,1 32,584, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J H H H H B MH WIm 11v VENTOR WITNESSES Attorneys M. S. HOWARD. AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROL FOB. MEOHANIOALLY OPERATED PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED 0014, 1913v 1 132 584 Patented Mar. 23, 1915. 5 SHEETS-$HEET 5- i ii? F 5 A? wmmn K 'gllll u" nu Illl llll ml ml Hll "II III! u|| III! III! \lll nu llll an llll INVENTOR WITNESSES -music roll, or the width of the opeuin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MONROE S. HOWARD, OF WAUKON, IOVIA.

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION. CONTROL FOR,MECHANICALLY-OPERATED PLANOS.

Application filed October 4, 1913.

To all 14 /1 0mit may concern Be it known that I, 'Moxnon S. HowAiu), a citizen of the United States, residing at \l'aukon, in the county of All-amakee and State of Iowa, have invented Certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic EX- pression (ontrol for Mechanically-Operated Pianos; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In music. expression is obtained by variations in time and loudness and in piano playing peculiar tones are obtained by variations in the touch of the player. In all nmsic certain notes should be accented, for instance, a primary accent of the first note of every measure, and in certain kinds of time, such as 2-4 and 6-8, there is also a secondary accent to each measure which is less pronounced than the primary accent, and these accents are varied more or less and other notes are accented to properly bring out the phrasing of a composition. It is also desirable at times to give prominence to ditl'erent notes in chords. Thus all the finer tones of expression are only obtainable by the individual control of the notes, as distinguislual from the general tones obtained by varying the loudness or the time.

In all forms of mechanically operated piano players provision is made for varying the tone quality and time, affecting the whole range of the instrument simultaneously, and in some players it is possible to vary the loudness of either the treble or the bass separately. Many attempts have been made to secure some degree of individual control, but to my knowledge, none has accomplished what I have.

My object is to produce a mechanism whereby not only varying degrees of accent can be produced as desired, but different notes can be struck with varying degrees-of loudness at the same time, and difi'crent qualities of human touch can be imitated so that a. pianists rendition of a composition may be accurately reproduced. l obtain this cll'ect by certain variations of the shape of the advance ends of the perforations inthe so 9 both, and in the mechanism including a tracker ba r having two or more openings for each note the openings to be used separately or in combination.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 793.348.

In the drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse sectional view through that much of an automatic piano player required to illustrate my invention, F ig. 2 represents a fragmental view in front elevation of a tracker bar and the music sheet, Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 represents a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 represents a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 represents a. modification of the construction of the secondary exhaust or tensicn' chamber and striker pneumatic. Figs. 8 and represent detail sectional views of modifications of valve structures adapted for operation in connection with the form of invention illus trated in Fig. 7, Fig. 10 represents a transverse vertical sectional view of a modified form of primary exhaust or tension chamher, Fig. 11 represents a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified construction of the device, Fig. 12 represents a fragmental view in front elevation of the tracker bar and music sheet employed in connection with mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11, Fig. 18 represents a modification of the invention as disclosed in Fig. 11, Fig. 14 represents a transverse vertical sectional. view through the secondary tension chamber and striking pneumatic in a modified form, Fig. 14 represents a central sectional view through the valve shown in Fig. 14, Fig. 15 represents a further modified form of the device, Fig. 16 represents another modification of the tracker bar and music sheet, Fig. 17 represents a vertical sectional view through one of the valveactuating bellows, showing means for limiting the movement of the bellows and valve connected therewith, and, Fig. 18 represents a front elevation of a modified form of tracker bar and music sheet adapted for use in connection with the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Iveferring to the drawings indetail, 20 indicates one of a set of striking pneumatics which is divided into any desired number of compartments 21. Each of the compartments 91 is connected by a passage 22 with an apertured cylinder 23, through which works a plunger 2i mounted upon a rod 25.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6, ,eachof the passages 2'2 communicates by a set of openings 26 in the wall of the cylinder 23 with virled with a plungerBO A bellows pneumatic i? having connection with the'r'od is l (rated in the chamber. and i s' divided into compartments cerrespondin in number to those in the st iker j; nineiie'ZO. Each of the ccn'ipartments Within the bellows-pneumatic 7 is mmneeted' by passage 28 with a second valve in tension chamber 29.

The valve last referred to is suhslzintiullv identical in construction to the valve ii described co'inprising the cvlinder plunger 24, and is else prosecurcd on a rod 31 adapted to work ever L series of openings formed in the casing 32 ci'iminunicating Willi the passages 28, whereby when. said plunger raised communicate established be tween the 'niine chamber 29 and the compartnu'en V .i ,llows pneumatic J7 snceessi hrougli the passages A r piu-iunatic 33 is lccatcd ie primer tension chamber 29 and is suitably ccnncctecl with the rod 3.1 for actuating the 1 lunger when said lICllOWS is actuated. The bellows 33 is also c0nstructcd with a plurality of compartments, ea 11 of which C(W'liElllIllC-HtSS by the passage irk and tube 35 with one of a. set of openings '36 formed in the tracker lnir 37 Each set f openings 36 is arrangeiil on A line substrniizilly transverse to l d tracker be prings 38 are provided in each of the chambers 26 and for compressing 0; col" lensing the bellows pneuuntic therein. The

'ubcs 35 and passages v are connected by small bleed holes (not shown) with the pri inn'y exhaust chamber 29 so that, ""'.lll1 the openings 36 in the tracker by the solid portions of music sheet, air is exhausted from these tubes and passages to the same pr sure exists in the chamber; andtlie primary pneumatic is compressed by its spring pneumatic 33 raises movement of the the plunger 30 and uncovers the openings in the cylinder; 52. Thus the cmnpartmcnts 0f-the secondary 'g'mcumatic 27 communicute with th p imary elmustclnunher 29 L v the pass lapsed; spring ings 3G in the tracker car the clliingi'iicd niisir n ,secondziry exhaust or tnus connecting allo the prinmry exhaust or provided and operated with bur covered the ccrnpa'rtinentsof the primary pneumatic 33, which ia c f rider ,2 and perinitting'air to enter throw 1 the top of said cylinder and to pass (leinwardly through the I sages and inflate the secondary pneiunatic 2?. The movement :31" the pneumatic 27 is 'iinnarted to the p unger fi and the letter moved upwardly & thin the cylinder 23,

f compartments of the striking pneumatic 9) with the exhaust chaznherQG practically sunultzineously and giving quick hurdhammer through the If the edvance end given an angular or connections 40 and 41. of the perforation is partially angular cut,

7 the openings 26 will lie uncovered in sues-es sion more or less rapidly and the compartments of the striking he collapsed at a corresponding rate, giving any desired force to the stroke, One or more of the com mitments of the striking pneumatic may l e collapsed in adi nnce so that short stride-z would he used'in striking the note and soft {ones obtained in that Way. The mechanism ul evc described may be a tracker liar and music sheet of the construction shown in Fig. 18. In this type the openings'in the tracker her are arranged in or groups. each C()ilf-';j)0l1dlil in number to the number of compartments in the striking, primary opening. tudinally each set are taneously or $1 'SlYQlY acci'rrding t0 the shape of the admin 'e ends of the perforattions in the m sic sheet. this form-i of my substituting the secondary exhaust chamber striking pnciunatic 4 L and'coiiperhtin'g devices shown in Fig 7. for the corresponding parts of the deri c as shown in Fig. 1. In this form, the striking pncunmtie 43 is provided with but one compartment conin'mnicating with a. cylinder 44 cythe pas- 45. An apertured seat 46 is provided in ie bottom oftliccylinder 44 andieceivcs :2 hollow valve 47 having an imperioaie head 48 and slot 49. The hollow valve 27 is cenncctcd with" the secondurv pneurustic wherein" when one or more of the pnrtments of the latter are inflated, said lre ill be moved upwardly a greater or le distance, (i mending: unon U moves the piunger to the" stroKc to the pieinov pneumatic 2-0 will secondary pneumatic-SQ The in spied to he uncovered siinul:

A modification of, invention is obtmnable by restripting' the flow of air between the striking pneumatic 48and the exhaust chamber 42 by governing the length of opening of the slot 49, depending upon the number of compartments of the pneumatic 42 which are inflated to raise the hollow valve 47.

Figs. 8 and 9 show modifications of the valve fol-restricting the flow of air between the striking pneumatic 43 and exhaust chamber 42 of the form of my invention shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 8 the valve 50 is provided with a tapering stem 51 suitably connected with the pneumatic 42 and adapted t be raised so as to permit air to flow in desired volume from between exhaust chamber and the striking pneumatic. In Fig. 9 the cylinder l-t is provided with a downwardly extending slot 52 communicating with the passage 45 and adapt ed to becovered and uncovered to establish and interrupt communication between the exhaust chamber and striking pneumatic by the plunger 53.

Fig. 10 shows a slightly different a rrangement of the primary exhaust chamber 29 and its cooperating accessories. In this form the cylinder 32 is located in the bottom of the chamber 29 and the rod 31 actuating the plunger 30 is provided on its upper end with a balancing piston 54- working in a cylinder 55.

In the construction of my expression control for piano players shown in Fig. 11, any desired form of valve system and striking pneumatics may be used, and the control of the latter is effected by connecting the striking pneumatic and connections 55 with a secondary or restraining bellows 56 of suitable size and in such manner that the latter is caused to open as the striking pneumatic 57 collapses to strike a. note. If air is admitted freely into the bellows 56, it is obvious that there will be practically no resistance to the striking pneumatic. but if the opening through which the bellows is supplied with air is more or less restricted, it will offer proportionately more or less resistance to the movement of the striking pneumatic and thus vary the stroke, as de sired. In order to control the air in the bellows 56 and consequently the resistance to the striking pneumatic, I providc a suitable passage 58 and tube 5.9 connecting said bellows with the openings in the tracker bar 61. The openings 60 are located above the openings 2 which are adapted to cooperate with the striking" pneumatic and valve system and are preferably tapered longitudinally of the tracker bar. A bleed hole )3 is provided bct.\'een the passage 58 and the exhaust chamber rl so that the air in the bellows, passage 58 and tube 59 is exhausted to the same tension as the exhaust chamber when the opening 60 in the tracker bar is covered and the bellows ofi'ers a maximum resistance to the striking pneumatic 57'. By cutting perforations in the music sheet 66 of suitable width so as to uncover more or less of the openings 60 before the strikin mechanism is set in operation by uncovering the openings 62, the desired variations in the force of the strokes may be obtained. A suitable flap valve 67 is provided for permitting the air to escape from the bellows 56, when the latter closes.

Another form of tracker bar and music sheet for the device shown in Fig. 1.1 is shown in Fig. 16, wherein the music sheet (38 is provided with perforations 69 having the advance ends thereof suitably cut so as to cover or partially cover the elongated openings 70 inathe tracker bar 71. In this form of tracker bar the openings 70 are connected by the tubes 59 and passage 58 with the controlling be ows 56.

Referring to Fig. 14, 20 denotes the secondary exhaust chamber of the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, in which is located the secondary pneumatic 27 having passages 28 each communicating with a. com partment of the pneumatic 27 and adapted to be selectively or simultaneously opened in a manner as set forth in the description of Fig. 1. The pneumatic 27 is connected with and adapted to actuate a hollow valve 72 adapted, when closed, to communicate the striking pneumatic 20 with the external air through the passage. 73 and the opening 74 through the center of the valve. A second or controlling bellows 75 is provided and connected with the upper portion of the cylinder in which the valve 72 is seated through the passage 76. The valve 72 is provided with a tapered stem 77. working through an apertured disk 78 and adapted to control the passage of air to the bellows 75.

Instead of the bellows 56 and 75 shown in Figs. 11 and '14 for controlling the action of the striking pneui'natics, I may employ an ordinary dash pot, as shown in Fig. 13 and suitably connect it at 79 with the striking pneumatic for controlling the action of the latter. In this instance, the tube 59 communicating with the auxiliary opening in the tracker bar is operativcly connected through the bottom of the dash pot.

A combination of the various devices here in described is shown in Fig. 15, wherein the striking pneumatic 20, secondary exhaust chamber 26 and controlling valve therebetwecn a re identical in construction to Fig. l. A second or auxiliary bellows 80 of suitable size is mounted over the striking pneumatic 20 and is suitably connected with the latter by devices 81. A passage 82 and tube 83 connect the controlling bel ows 80 with a suitable opening in the tracker bar which latter is adapted to be partially or entirely covered by the music roll, as before l gdescrihed, to control, the passage Of air to Kat a tubular means to reduce thejzpriessure in said the bellows 80. This form of my invention will give the most complete control of the touch or striker action.

In Fig. 17 I have shown means for limiting-the moi'ementof the compartments of the various bellows and consequently the movement of the valve connected therewith.

In said figure, 81 indicates an eXte1ision-pr0-.

vidcd on the end of the partition between each compartment and 85 denotes a series of steps adapted to be successively engaged by the extensions 84, as the compartments of the bellows are successively inflated.

In all of the forms of my invention herein described perfect. and. independent control of the degree of loudness of each indi vidual note in the range of the musical in strument is obtained automatically. It is therefore apparent that with proper shaping of the note perforations the individual notes in a composition may be played with the exact relative degree of loudness and quality of touch to give the most pleasing effect. 2; w

What I claim as new is: i 1. An automatic piano player comprising'; a tracker bar, a plurality of striking pneumatics, said striking pneumatics having opposing chambers, tubular means connecting said tracker bar w th one of said chambers, tubular means connecting said tracker bar iththe opposing chamber;

said last vmentioned means regulating the striking force of said striking pneumatics', means commun cating between each of, said.

tubular means to the samejdegree' of force, and means positioned within said-first tuhula!" means adapted tojregulatingly actuatelsaidz'strikingpneumatic against the re-' sistance vof said opposingchamber, said-last mentioned-communicating .means consisting of'a valve member fhav mg'a tubular cham-- her, and a reciprocating piston reciprocating within said tubular chamber having an increasing opening thereto.-

2. An automatic, piano player comprising a tracker bar, havingaplurality of groups of apertures therethrough, a striking pneumatic having opposing chambers, one to actuate said striking pneumatic, andthe other to determinately resist said actuation,ineans connecting one group of said apertures in said bar to said actuating chamber in said striking pneumatic, means connecting another group of apertures in said tracker bar to"said opposing chamber, means communieating between said connecting means to equalize the pressure therebetween, and

means positioned Within one of-said coma plurality 0f compartmented striking pneu matics, said compartments opposing one an other, means connecting each of said compartmeuts to operate the same in'unison, -a

tracker bar; communicating means between said'tracker bar and one of said compartments to actuate said striking pneumatics, a second communicating means between said tracker bar and the opposing compartments of said striking pneumatics to oppose the actuation thereof, a tubular means having an increasingly actuated reciprocating memb er therein, positioned in one of saidcom- IIXUHlCatiIIgIHGRIIS to regulate the degree of actuation of "said striking pneumatics and means between said communicating means to balance the pressure between said comlast mentionedineans. l

In testimony whereof I. have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. I

- 7 MONROE S.-HOWARD. Witnesses:

H. A. Hown, GUs FLINT.

'municating means upon the actuation of said 

